Ore-classifier.



A. E. WIGGIN & A. E. WHEELER. ORE ULASSIFIER.

APrLIUATION FILED JUNEZ'I, 1912. 1,058,828. Patented Apr. 15,1913.

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I I I E y? .El Q v 1.3 t 4 I l/I/II/A WITNESSES: IN VENTORs.

v Albert BM in y BY ArcherE- Mer ATTORNEY.

A. B. WIGGIN & A/B. WHEELER.

" ORE CLASSIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZ'I,1912. 1,058,828. Patented Apr. 15, 1913 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IN VENTORS.

AIbertEM'ggin a,

MMI

\ ATTORNEY.

BY frcher E- Whgeler- UNITED T S PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. WIGGIN AND ARCHER E. WHEELER,

0]? GREAT FALLS, MONTANA, ASSIGN- ORS OF ONE-THIRD TO ROBERT H. RICHARDS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ORE-CLASSIFIER.

' Annlication filed June 27, 1912. Serial No. 706,210

To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that we, ALBERT.E. VVIGGIN and ARCHER E. 'Wnnnn'na, citizens of the United'States, residing at Great Falls, in the county of Cascade and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Classifiers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

Our invention has relation to improve ments in ore-classifiers; and it consists in the novel details of construction more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 tea side elevation of a series of two classifiers, parts being in section; Fig. 2 is a combined top plan and horizontal section on the zig-zag line 2-2 ofFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 taken above the constriction plate; Fig. 4 is a View at right angles to Fig. 1 showing the lower portion of the container, the teeter-and pressure chambers therefor, and spigot discharge casting, and timber supporting the classifier; Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a top plan of the sectional hopper liner; Fig. 7 is a middle vertical section thereof on the line 77 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a top plan of the discharge casting; Fig. 9 is a middle vertical section thereof on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of the discharge casting, partly broken; and Fig. 11 is a side elevationwith parts in section showing a modified form for the hopper liner and hopper casting.

The present.- invention relates particularly to what are known as hydraulic ore-classifiers wherein ore-pulp (fine ore mixed with water) is resolved into its respective coarse and fine components capable each of subsequent independent treatment byany known concentrating process.

The object of our in'iprovement is to pro-- vide a classifier which will separate to the best advantage, the slimes from the balance of the pulp; one which maintains the most favorable conditions for the se )aration of the coarse from the'fine particles and the separate removal of each from the classifier; one which prevents any material portion of the slimes from escaping with the coarse particles; one in which a uniform Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

current is maintained over any given'horizontal cross-section of the classifier; one providing a pressure and settling chamber which is free and unobstructed throughout its entire cross-sectional area; one in which the rising current and. the pulp feed are dis posed along the axis of the classifier thereby permitting the rising-current to act to best advantage against the central pulpfeed; one provided with a constriction plate or member separating the settling and pressure chamber from a teeter chamber at the base of the container or spitzkasten and one possessing furtherand other structural features the advantages of which will be better apparent from a detailed description of the invention which is as follows Referring to the drawings, and for the vpresent to Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, 1 represents the main classifier chamber or container of which there ma beany number connected in series, any chamber constituting however, a classifier in itself, so that a. description of one will sutfice for all. In Fig. 1 we show a series of two classifiers in which the overflow of the first discharges centrally into the second, and in which the first is provided with a central pulp-feed in the shape of a. pipe 2 disposed about the vertical axis of the container and 'dip ing a suitable distance below the surface of liquid contents of said container. The container is of the prevailing conical or spit zhasten type, and herein overflowing peripherally, said peripheral overflow discharging into a surrounding launder 3. The launder is provided w'th a discharge spout 4 which, when a series of classifiers are coupled together as shown in Fig. 1, is provided with an extension 4 dipping centrally into the next'classifir, and so on'through the series, It may be stated in passing that a number of classifiers may be so connected as to have one receive the heavy particles or spigot discharge, or discharges from the others,should it-be desirable to reclassify this spigot dis.- charge in lieu of the light particles or overflow-discharge as shown in the illustration here selected." i

The container or hopper 1 rests in a botl'l'lll hopper-casting :5'to Which-are secured supportin and bolted to t nnbers T. .Received by the hop-per opposite the casting} is a removable ematite:- ceare grammar the bracket-or. arms' 6' resting on ferred form of construction, though they may assume some other shape as presently to be seen. Secured to the basal flange a of the casting is the upper flange a of the pressure chamber casting 8, a plate 9 having an opening (or openings) 0 being interposed and secured between the two flanges. This plate or its equivalent, will hereinafter be referred. to as the constriction member, the discharge end or ends of the opening or openings thereof being disposed in a lane transverse to the axis of the classifier, the

thickness of the member being restricted in order to reduce the zone of constriction, and hence minimize the friction of the flow of the upward current therethrough. In lieu of the plate any equivalent may be substituted therefor, without departing from the spirit of our invention. Formed with the pressure chamber casting 8 is a conduit 10 terminating within the chamber in an up ward, central or axial dischargeeelbow 10 connected to the chamber wall by a wedge shaped rib 11, the ridge of the rib being presented upward and disposed in the plane of the discharge opening of the elbow, so as to facilitate-the downward flogv of the heavy particles along the inclined faces of i the rib, and prevent their permanent lodgment on the rib. Bolted to the bottom of i the pressure chamber 8 is the spigot discharge casting 12, in the present instance shown as provided with two discharge nozales 13 equipped with usual discharge plugs or ;s igots 14. To the conduit 1.0 is secured the eed-water supply pipe P furnishing water under sutlicient head or pressure to produce an upward 'or rising current through the classifier. It may be stated in passing that the cylindricalbasal port-ion of the conical liner 7, forms (immediately above the constriction plate 9) a chamber r appropriately designated as a teeter chamber because in this chamber the particles are teetering more or less in seeking their true positions as determined by the sorting currentathe member 8 being the pressure chamber. In Fig. 11 we show a. cylindrical hopper liner 7 in which case a corresponding cylindrical hopperfcasting 5 must be improvised. In other respects the construction does not differ from that already described.

While Wehave here shown the'units (chambers 1, 1) 1n ser1es,1t is obvious 0' course, that they maybe connected up in parallel or in series, or a combination of these, and so set up. that the spigot discharge of one may discharge into the next, or the overflow of one maydischarge into the next, or any combination of these inf-a series of classifiersl' The formof chamber 1 may of course be conical or pyramidal as obvious to those versed in the art.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the present improvement is characterized by a substantially central or axial downward pulp-feedg'an upward central water feed; a teeter chamber; a pressure chamber; a constriction member, and a peripheral overflow.

The operation of the classifier may be described substantially as follows:Assu1ning that pulp is introduced into the classifier through the central feed pipe 2 and a rising current of water is flowing into the pressure chamber 8 from the centrally disposed discharge mouth of the elbow 10, the two opposing currents will at some point in the container 1 cause a lateral or radial spreading of the pulp, the rising or sorting current keeping the lighter particles afloat, such particles finally flowing over the upper edge of the container 1 into the launder 3 whence they discharge int-o the succeeding chamber 1 in which a similar action is taking place. A description of the operation of one unit will therefore suflice for all. The water column rising in the pressure chamber 8 in passing the constriction 0 of the member 9 naturally increases in velocity across the zone of constriction, such increase being in a measure continued into the teeter chamber t through which the heavier particles are gravitating toward the constriction and through which they eventually pass into the pressure chamber 8. The increased currentvelocity across and just above the constriction a naturally permits only such particles to gravitate through the constriction as are heavy enough to overcome the rising water column, the lighter particles being rejected and segregated from the heavier and compelled to finally find their way out with the peripheral overflow from the classifier. It is this elimination of the lighter from the heavier particles above the constriction memher which causes the teetering of the particles in the chamber 25, a particle once rejected again seeking to fall so that-there is a constant rising and falling or teetering of the particles in said chamber. In the abseuce of a specific teetering chamber (due to the elimination of the perforated constriction member 9) the sorting or classification would not be so well defined or as uniform as some light particles would then find their way down and mingle with the concentrates. Once the heavy particles find their way into the pressure chamber, they readily overcome the reduced rising current, falling through the same, past the mouth (if the elbow 10 and over the wedge-shaped rib 11 into the chamber of the discharge casting 12 n'ln'ncc they escape through the plug or plugs 14.

over the'entlre upper edge of the classifier-l the rising currents are rendered more uni form throughout the cross-section of the classifier than would be the case where theoverflow wasover a part of the periphery, It will be observed that the pressure chamber 8 is free and unobstructed above a plane passing across the mouth of the elbow 10, so that the entire cross-section of the chamber available for the gravitation of classified materiah It will further be observed that the height of the constriction o is limit" ed to that thickness or-zone in passing which, only suflicient acceleration is imparted to the rising current to impose thenecessary function on the teeter chamber, that is to say, the function of segregating the lighter particles from the heavier particles, the acceleration being restricted to said chamber. It is in eti'ectt a segregating chamber.

The pulpfeed being central (or axial) and in opposition to acorres ondingly central or axial upward watereed, it follows that at the point of approaching neutralization of these opposing currents, the pul J will spread radially outward and u) 'ar the lightest particles flowing over t e edge of the'container, and the heavier falling toward the chamber t, where they in turn become properly segregated or sorted, as described. Obviously though called an ore-classifier, its application is not. to be restricted ,to the treatment of ores but may be employed for classifying any material to which the apparatus is applicable.

Having described our invention, what we claim is:

1. An ore classifier comprising a suitable container having a bottom discharge means forheavy particles and a peripheral overflow, a central pulp-feed for the container, a pressure chamber interposed between the container and bottom discharge means and establishing free communication between them, means for introducing a column of water through the walls of the pressure chamber into the container and confining said column to a central upward flow in op position to the pulp-feed, a chamberabove the pressure chamber for segregating. the light from the heavy particles, and a perforated constriction member interposed between, and separating the aforesaid chambers, and conducting the heavy particles to the pressure chamber.

2. An ore classifier comprising a suitable container having a bottom discharge means for heavy particles and a peripheral overflow, a central pulp-feed dipping below the surface of the contents of the container, a pressure chamber interposed between the container and bottom discharge means and establishing tree communication between them, means for introducing a column of water through the walls of the pressure chamber into the container and confining wardly through the container, a pressure chamber interposed between the container and bottom discharge means and establish iug free communication between them, means for introducing a column of water through thepressure chamber into thecontainer andronfining said column to an upward flow 'in opposition to the downward flow of the pulp-feed, a chamber above the pressure chamber for segregating the light from the heavy particles, and a perforated.

constriction member disposed across the top of the pressure chamber between the latter and the segregating chamber, and operating to conduct the heavy particles to said pressure chamber. i

4. In an ore classifier, a pressure chamber provided with a conduit terminating in a,

central axial-discharging elbow. and a wedge-shaped rlblspanningthe space between the elbow and chamber wall, the ridge" of the rib being disposed in the plane of the discharge opening ofsaid elbow. In testimony whereof,.we a'flix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT E. WIGGTN.

, ARCHER E. \VI IEEL'ER. Witnesses for Albert E. Wigginr \VILLLuI. C. CAIRON,

FREDERICK 'LOIST. Witnesses for Archer E. Wheeler:

Tmo'rnr -I. Coacomx, W1 LLIA n H; BEARD. 

